[merylsilverburg]

Taken from the "New York Daily News" online:

https://www.nydailynews.com/03-27-200...3p-65427c.html

New York Daily News Online
March 27, 2003

"Kids tuning out Cartoon Network"
Phyllis Furman

There's not much to laugh about at the Cartoon Network.
While media watchers are fixated on the woes of cable news titan CNN, another Ted Turner jewel has smacked into a wall: "Powerpuff Girls" channel, Cartoon Network.

Not long ago, the toon channel, founded by Turner, was in striking distance of challenging Viacom's kids cable giant Nickelodeon.

But ratings for Cartoon's kids audience have fallen 15% from last year. That means its take of the kids current "upfront" market, could decline 10%, sources said. "The wind's gone out of them," said Nick boss Cyma Zarghami.

For years, Cartoon was growing its subscriber base and audience at Road Runner speed, churning out $130 million in profits last year, according to Kagan World Media.

But Cartoon's been hampered by budget cuts at parent AOL Time Warner and hasn't launched a big hit since the 1998 debut of "Powerpuff Girls." Compare that with Nickelodeon's powerful cartoon franchise, "SpongeBob SquarePants" and fast-rising hit "The Fairly Odd Parents."

Analysts fault the Turner network for shifting too much attention to its late-night adult cartoon block. "They got sidetracked and they stumbled," said Shelly Hirsch, CEO of kids ad buying firm Summit Media.

Another blow came last summer with the departure of Cartoon's longtime boss, kids TV brainiac Betty Cohen.

Her replacement, Jim Samples, acknowledged the decline. He's working on a tune-up that's yielded recent gains. Samples upped the investment in original programs, with five coming in the new season. Among the most promising - a series of animated shorts based on George Lucas' "Star Wars."

"It's a slow build," Samples said.

So, what do you guys think? I know many on here are pleased with Adult Swim because of the unedited animes and other shows that are allowed on there. I also know that some feel that more stuff should belong to Adult Swim. But do you guys think the late night block really is the problem with the lack of viewers for the other shows on Cartoon Network?